The big ‘C‘ (China/ Corona – suit yourself) sent us all indoors. My office went on an indefinite ‘Work From Home’ ever since our ‘Honourable‘ PM Modi announced a 2 week National Lockdown which went on adding. Dad came home a week earlier from Bangalore. All four of us, trapped. Yaay? No. Two weeks passed by. I missed the outdoors already.

A lot happened in 3 months. Internationally, America screwed up big time. India wasn’t any better. We were in trouble with – Nepal, Pakistan, China and Corona. Crime rate were surprisingly high and just as scarier as Corona cases. 

Chennai and 4 districts were marked as the red zone and were put down a special 12-day lockdown while the other districts enjoyed their freedom while they can. June was turning to be a nightmare of corona cases. Mum’s birthday was celebrated low-key with my poor baking skills. Meanwhile, Jay started drawing anime too (blaming the artistic genes).

While people were dying due to corona in other nations, Indians were dying from starvation. An exodus of unemployed migrants who wanted to satisfy their hunger, did not bother becoming a prey to the virus . The Indian States tried their best to arrange safe travel but the numbers were wild. The end of Lockdown speeches by Modi were becoming hopeless and was the source for many memes. In fact, all his actions were too.

14th June, I was aghast upon hearing the suicide/alleged murder of the bollywood actor, Sushant Singh. Weirdly, I did not believe it for 3 days, which is a lot for someone who hasn’t seen any of his films. ‘Nepotism’ was to be blamed they say. The more I read about him, more crestfallen I became.

On June 15th, the Indo-China border at Galwan Valley, Ladakh had a fierce face off between both the parties costing the lives of 20 Indian soldier and an anonymous number of the Chinese with the release of another 10 Indian soldiers after being captives of the Chinese for 2 days came shocking. The media and the government were not willing to share the exact details/ reason for the attack(not shocking). All the sweet Times spent in Mahabalipuram went in vain.

Things were a little relaxed at Rajapalayam and Madurai. Mummyma and Thatha even went out a few times.

Most of the days were mundane with no office work either. Somewhere between feeling guilty and secretly happy having to idle away, I spend my days reading, drawing and watching anime. The news filled with more depressing stuff other than just corona. I’ve practised preparing a few easy desserts – puttu, kesari, Custard Pudding(hate it), cupcakes, payasam(vermicelli and parupu), Gulab jamun, inipu paniyaram and susiyam. 

At 6:45pm, Dad and I would go for a 45min walk, whilst we talk about  – Indian Politics, Stock Markets, Economics, Childhood memories, stories and Out-of-box thinking and my questionable future.  Some nights weren’t meant for sleep but for overthinking. 

On 18th June, The Premier League resumed again with empty stadiums. United drew against the Spurs. Football was a sight for sore eyes amidst the pandemic.

20,June: The Chinese government made an official statement acknowledging Galwar Valley as their own, which caused more chaos. In TN, the number of testings were drastically increased, which brings us to the next concern – Beds for Hospitalization.
In short, 2020 will be a waste.

Although, I made a list to boost my motivation(does’t help):

1. Baking (Not working out)

2. Finish the book – ‘Shoe Dog’ (been trying for 2 months) and ‘The Confessions of an Economic Hitman’

3. Draw better (time consuming)

4. Learn Stitching (mum consuming)

5. Exercise (Compensating everyday with a new dessert)

Sept,2020 : Intellect Day was coming up. I joined the short film team. Jay was my camera-man while I.. ahem.. tried acting. The other videos of my team were patched together and was released on 4th Sept.I got a lot of positive reviews of my first time on screen. Both My poem(The True Conquest) and My Short story were highly appreciated by my team. 

18th Sept: IPL had begun in Dubai. Along with The Premier League, the distraction was just perfect to saboteur me from doing everything I listed above.